This document discusses docu-games, which are educational games that combine gameplay with raising awareness about important issues. It describes several games created by Georg Hobmeier's studio Causa Creations since 2014 that focus on social and political topics. One game discussed in more detail is Burn The Boards, a mobile game about e-waste recycling in India that aims to both tell a story about real issues and raise funds for related non-profits. The document also explores challenges and opportunities around using games for fundraising and awareness campaigns.

1. Docu-Games
games & monetization
at the edges of reality
and fiction

2. Georg Hobmeier

3. Frontiers
• Half-Life 2 Mod
• „Refugee Game“
• Extensive research
• Released in 2010

5. Since 2014: Causa Creations
• Social awareness games for
NGOs & museums
• Indie game aesthetics &
game design
• Strong focus on research
• Unique donation
mechanics

6. - Historical ARPG
- Based on the
history of Berlin‘s
Ethnological
Museum
- Lots of shooting
and riding canoes
Totem‘s Sound

7. Prototypes!
• Experiments
• Narrative formats
• Political
communication
• Game jams!

8. The Resource Paradox
• Casual strategy game
• Part of Amnesty‘s Coal
Scam campaign
• Portraying the struggle of
India‘s Adivasi tribes
• Raising funds, but also
awareness

10. Burn The Boards
• Mobile game about the
struggle of Indian e-waste
recyclers
• The story of a „Dalit“ that
was chased off his land
• "Burn the Boards aims the
Papers, Please format at
India's poor working
conditions" Pocket Gamer

11. Burn The BoardsBurn The Boards
• Research project with Technical University of Vienna
• Project partner Action for World Solidarity
• Fundraising as an additional task / research topic

12. Burn The BoardsBurn The Boards
• Puzzle gameplay to show dangers of work with toxic elements

13. Burn The BoardsBurn The Boards
• Simulation gameplay to portray social aspects

14. Gamers & Donations?
• Athene raised 15 M $
• Dedicated fundraising
games like Half the Sky
• Humble Bundle raised
more then 65 M $

15. The Donation Market
• USA: 290 Bn $ in 2012
(Austria: 600 M $)
• Amnesty Austria spends
approx. 1.6 M € to raise 6.2
€ M (in 2013)
• Growing market in global
South

16. Monetization in Burn The Boards
• Revenue sharing with NGO
• IAP: Premium Items
• Interstitials: Telemarketing
with Ms Chopra (Admob)
• Direct donations (Apple)

17. What happens with the money?
• Support of local
NGOs in India
• Adressing directly
the portrayed
problems

18. Does it work?
• New emotional quality of IAPs
• „Dual-benefit“ ads
• Great press
• Google Grants
• … but it‘s just a research project

19. Future Projects
• Resource Paradox - fundraising for Amnesty
• Contract development & prototyping
• More experiments!
• Snitch – political adventure game

20. Thanks for listening!
Georg Hobmeier
@mercurylegba
www.causacreations.net
www.burntheboards.net